Forward Rob Ricafort was looking forward to opening weekend of UAAP Season 80 the past two years since he joined University of the Philippines.
But instead of being on the floor for the Fighting Maroons as they eked out a 74-73 win over the University of Santo Tomas Tigers at Mall of Asia Arena, Ricafort was on the bench wearing sweat pants cheering on his teammates.
Ricafort was struck out of the lineup a day before the start of the season after he was deemed ineligible due to the new league rule on age limit.
“It was supposed to be my first game in my first and last season,” said Ricafort who is turning 25 in January 2018. “This was supposed to be a big day for me.”
The new rule states that an athlete cannot be more than 25 years old for the whole season, not just the basketball tournament, which ends in December.
Ricafort said he remains hopeful he could suit up for the Fighting Maroons this season.
“I was told that it was the final decision but UP is going to re-appeal this week,” he said.
Ricafort enrolled in La Salle in 2011, hoping to crack the first team. He moved to UST, but his transfer did not pan out as intended, before Bo Perasol recruited him to join the Fighting Maroons.